Adherence to
antihyperglycemic medications is often suboptimal in patients with
type 2 diabetes, and this can contribute to poor
glycemic control, increased hospitalization, and the development of
diabetic complications. Reported adherence rates to
antihyperglycemics vary widely among studies, and this may be related to differences in methodology for measuring adherence, patient populations, and other factors. Poor adherence may occur regardless of the specific regimen used and whether
therapy is oral or
injectable, and can be especially common in chronic,
asymptomatic conditions, such as
type 2 diabetes. More convenient
drug-administration regimens and advances in formulations and delivery devices are among strategies shown to improve adherence to
antihyperglycemic therapy, especially for
injectable therapy. This is exemplified by technological developments made in the
drug class of
glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists, which are a focus of this narrative review.
Dulaglutide,
albiglutide, and prolonged-release
exenatide have an extended duration of action and can be administered once weekly, whereas such agents as
liraglutide require once-daily administration. The convenience of once-weekly versus once-daily administration is associated with better adherence in real-world studies involving this class of agent. Moreover, provision of a user-friendly delivery device has been shown to overcome initial resistance to
injectable therapy among patients with
type 2 diabetes. This suggests that recent innovations in
drug formulation (eg, ready-to-use formulations) and delivery systems (eg, single-dose prefilled pens and hidden, ready-attached needles) may be instrumental in encouraging patient acceptance. For physicians who aim to improve their patients' adherence to
antihyperglycemic medications, it is thus important to consider the patient's therapeutic experience (treatment frequency,
drug formulation, delivery device). Better adherence, powered by recent technological advances in the delivery of
glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists, may thus lead to improved clinical outcomes in
type 2 diabetes.